People are routinely arrested before all the facts are known, based on probable cause. Then you have an arraignment, bail hearing, omnibus motions, discovery...

He’ll probably plead not guilty and raise the defense of self-defense at the arraignment, get no bail because he’s a flight risk, and move to have the venue changed due to excessive publicity and passions, as well as move to dismiss the complaint after discovery is completed. In discovery, both sides exchange evidence that they intend to use so nobody’s taken by surprise.

Of course, that’s what a lawyer would do for him prior to trial. Are his “lawyers” representing him again? Does he have new ones?

If Zimmerman was acting in any kind of official capacity for the HOA when he was patrolling the neighborhood, there's a good chance that the HOA bylaws (or Florida law) indemnify him in the event of legal trouble. So if/when he's acquitted of the charge(s), he may be able to sue the HOA to recover the cost of his legal defense.

How ironic is it that Trayvon Martin's father -- who lived in that neighborhood -- may ultimately end up helping pay Zimmerman's legal bills?

S##T, I was really hoping Zimmerman was off in Brazil by now, especially since there is no extradition treaty between the US and Brazil. He could’ve been flipping the bird to Obama, Holder, and Holder’s people.

Its Political. Cost less to pay out for Malicious Prosecution then to pay for Holders people using it as an excuse to loot the cities.

Yes, it is political. But if the powers-that-be think that kicking-the-can down the road will allow tensions to ease, they are sorely mistaken. The longer this goes on the more organized the Civil Rights crazies are going to get. Cities will burn. And that's just for starters.

84
posted on 04/11/2012 3:14:24 PM PDT
by Tallguy
(It's all 'Fun and Games' until somebody loses an eye!)

Who said anything about jurors? If Zimmerman's legal counsel is smart, they may recommend a non-jury trial.

This kind of scenario happens occasionally in New York City when police officers kill someone in a case that gets a lot of bad publicity.

1. The prosecutor files a murder charge against the police officer.

2. The police officer opts for a trial before a judge instead of a jury.

3. The judge -- who decides the case based only on the facts and on a strict application of the law -- hands down an acquittal.

In most cases, the same @ssholes who clamored for a murder charge at the beginning of the case often criticize the prosecutor for filing such a serious charge in the first place. This "change of heart" usually happens about two-thirds of the way through the trial, when it becomes obvious to anyone who knows anything about the case that there's no way in hell a murder charge is going to stand up under any legal scrutiny.

In discovery, both sides exchange evidence that they intend to use so nobodys taken by surprise.

Actually, that is not completely true in a criminal case. In a civil case, discovery applies to both sides - in a criminal case, the defense is not required to reveal anything to the prosecution, but the prosecution must reveal everything to the defense. There may be some exceptions to the rule, such as in the case of scientific test results (to allow opposing experts to examine them), but that kind of depends upon the state.

It could be anyone of us bext. Then what?
We talk about how Corey is a wuss for caving to the race baiters. Then we say our law enforcement is more military than the police of old and seem more and more to be going rogue. We talk about how rhinos are cowards and scared of democrats and on and on.
But ladies and gentlemen,WE are the cowards.

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